Global warning causing planet from the effects of climate change, such as hotter temperatures, more severe storms, diminishing sea ice, increased drought, etc. Therefore, the global energy sector is shifting from fossil-based energy production and consumption systems, including oil, natural gas, and coal, to renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, as well as lithium-ion batteries.
Global energy storage developer Eku Energy which is focused on delivering safe, secure, and reliable solutions at scale and speed. The company will soon start constructing two new battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in the UK, totalling 130 megawatt-hours (MWh).
The company has placed an order with Italy-based NHOA Energy, a business unit of the NHOA Group, to supply two stand-alone battery energy storage systems (BESS) for Basildon and Loudwater.
NHOA Energy and Eku Energy will provide vital flexibility to support the UK electricity system, enable more renewable generation and advance the UK’s clean energy transition.
The project is set to install in Basildon, Essex, and Loudwater, Buckinghamshire, and together both the projects will have an installed capacity of 130MWh.
NHOA Energy and Eku Energy will also enter into a long-term service agreement regarding the operational maintenance of the batteries. The companies did not reveal the MW power output of the two BESS sites.
Sandra Grauers Nilsson, CEO of Eku Energy, said, “Battery storage is essential to the decarbonization of electricity systems globally, and Eku Energy is focused on delivering safe, secure, and reliable solutions at scale and pace. We’re delighted to have partnered with NHOA Energy on these two new battery storage projects as we continue to expand our global battery storage portfolio”.
Lucie Kanius-Dujardin, NHOA Energy’s Executive Vice President – Global Markets & Development, said, “We cannot wait to start working with Eku Energy on the Basildon and Loudwater projects, given our common values and a similar approach to the energy transition. Entering the UK market with over 130MWh of projects for Eku Energy, a globally recognized energy storage developer, is an important step forward in NHOA Energy’s journey and proves once again our global reach and execution capabilities“.
Eku Energy already has a 40MW/40MWh battery under construction in Maldon, Essex, and recently announced a partnership with Renera Energy to develop 1GW of BESS projects in Italy.
In its latest Future Energy Scenarios published this month, National Grid indicated it expects 10-20GW of battery storage to connect by 2030, up from 2.8GW today. Once operational, the Basildon and Loudwater Eku Energy’s these systems will provide critical grid services to increase resilience and support the UK’s transition to net zero.
Construction on both sites is scheduled to begin at the end of 2023. It is expected to be commercially operational by the end of 2024.
